Iran’s 180-missile barrage escalates tensions in West Asia

New Delhi, Oct 2: Iran’s rain down of missiles on Israel on Tuesday evening marked a major escalation in the region, with Tehran launching 180 missiles targeting major Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and southern regions.

The attack, which Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said focused on security and military installations, followed the Israeli assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The missile barrage triggered emergency sirens and loud explosions in Israel, forcing millions of local citizens into bomb shelters across the main towns as residents received a red signal on their phones.

Many of the residents said that it took them by surprise and dozens of residents crumpled like sardines into the emergency bomb safety bunkers across Tel Aviv.

Newly surfaced videos reveal that an Israeli air base was struck during the barrage, though the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported that a “large number of interceptions” were conducted.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the attack by warning Iran that it had made a “big mistake” and would “pay for it,” vowing retaliation under Israel’s long-standing policy of responding forcefully to any attack on its territory.

One Palestinian man in the West Bank was killed, and infrastructure damage occurred, including a school in central Israel and a restaurant in Tel Aviv.

While Israel closed its airspace briefly, it has since reopened. The IDF indicated that while Iran’s missiles hit targets, the overall operational capacity of Israel’s air force remained intact, and it would continue airstrikes across West Asia.

This missile strike is seen as Iran’s response to mounting tensions, particularly after Nasrallah’s death. However, experts analysing the attack suggest that despite reports from Iranian media about the use of the Fattah-1 hypersonic missile, evidence points to the use of more conventional weapons like Shahab-3 ballistic missiles.

Trevor Ball, a former US Army ordnance expert, said to CNN that fragments from Shahab-3 variants were identifiable in verified footage of the strikes. The Shahab-3 is known to be a key component of Iran’s missile program, designed with medium-range capabilities.

The White House acknowledged the scale of the attack, calling it “twice as large” as a similar incident in April. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated that while the missile barrage was extensive, it appeared “ineffective” due to Israel’s missile defence system, which intercepted many of the incoming threats. Despite the high number of missiles, the US Navy’s involvement, including firing interceptors, seemed to limit the damage. Sullivan called the situation “fluid” and emphasised that assessments were still ongoing.

In Iran, the missile strike was met with celebration. Crowds in Tehran gathered near the British embassy, waving Hezbollah flags and praising the response to Nasrallah’s death. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is expected to address the nation during Friday prayers.  His sermon will likely outline Iran’s strategy from now on.

Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani defended the missile barrage as a legitimate response to Israeli assassinations of senior Hezbollah and Hamas leaders. He warned that any further Israeli actions would trigger a “decisive” retaliation. In contrast, Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon stated that Israel’s response to this unprecedented missile attack “will be painful,” but emphasised that Israel does not seek to escalate tensions further.

Diplomatic efforts to prevent wider escalation are already underway like the UN and EU demanding for a ceasefire and  Western nations warning Tehran that further involvement in the conflict could provoke Israeli strikes on critical Iranian infrastructure, including its nuclear and oil facilities.

These warnings come as Israel ramps up its airstrikes in Beirut, targeting Hizbollah strongholds in response to ongoing threats from Hezbollah, Houthi in Yemen and Hams in Gaza.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed it has struck "terrorist targets" in Beirut's southern suburbs following warnings for residents to evacuate the area. AFP reported that explosions were heard, and smoke was seen rising from the scene.

These airstrikes targeted Hezbollah strongholds in the Lebanese capital, part of a broader campaign that included an earlier strike last Friday which killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Ahead of the latest strikes, the IDF advised residents in several neighbourhoods and buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs to evacuate, indicating that more operations were imminent.

The IDF also announced it had launched a "focused and limited" ground operation targeting Hezbollah in several southern Lebanese villages, adding that multiple raids have been conducted since the onset of the conflict.

As both sides brace for further tense developments, Iran’s latest missile attack has pushed the region to the brink of broader conflict. The question remains whether ongoing diplomatic efforts can prevent a full-scale war.